Chia Vitality: 30 Days to Better Health, Greater Vibrancy, and a More Meaningful and Purposeful Life

The diet category is full of 30-day fix-it books that make lofty promises about just how much change can be achieved in a month. Hoffman, founder and CEO of Mamma Chia, the original chia seed beverage, offers another such title but with a new twist: her path to perfection is liberally sprinkled with chia seeds—rich in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, calcium, and antioxidants. Hoffman extols the virtues of chia with an infomercial level of enthusiasm. Her diet is a variation on the ubiquitous low-cal, gluten-free, low-sugar diet that avoids red meat. The 30-day plan, with chia-sprinkled recipes (for example, soft fish tacos with chia pico de gallo; chia Caesar dressing) is enhanced by her recommendations regarding exercise, pleasure, meditation, and ways to expand one’s sense of belonging and community. Granted, following this integrative approach should result in positive change with or without consuming chia. That the author believes that chia is the source of all things good is clear; whether the reader will swallow the story, or the seeds, is another question. Agent: Bonnie Solow, Solow Literary Enterprises. (Apr.)